CONTENT AT A GLANCE
Davao City Quick Facts
Land area: 2,443.61 km2
Distance: 608 miles south of Philippine Capital Manila
City Classification: Highy-urbanized
Population: 1,632,991 (2015 Census)
Language Spoken:; Cebuano; Filipino; English
Currency: Philippine Peso
IDD : area code (0)82
LocalChief Executive: Inday Sara Duterte-Caprio (Mayor)
Mode of transportation:
Air- Major airlines have daily flights to and from Davao City
Land – Bus, taxi, jeepney
There’s a lot of reasons to visit Davao City. It is the home of Philippine eagle; the basket of the king of all fruits, durian; the economic gateway of Mindanao – you name it! And, of course, it is the hometown of the president, our President Rodrigo Duterte.
This Davao City travel guide is aimed at giving you a list of top things to do in the city. In particular, this is intended for those who are planning for a 3-day or so vacation. So, hope you’ll find this guide useful.
Davao City is big. And I mean BIG. In fact, you can put about three Metro Manilas in it. Thus, if you are planning for a short visit to the city, it makes sense that you strategize so that you can make the most out of your stay – i.e. you can visit and enjoy more attractions, given your limited time.
Top things to do in Davao City
Touring the city proper (Poblacion)
There is no better way to learn more about Davao City – its rich history, the people, products, and the way of life of the locals – but to tour the city by foot. Visit the famous and important landmarks within the city proper such as the following:
- The City Hall of Davao
- The City Council Building (Sangguniang Panglungsod)
- Davao Museum (Museo Dabawenyo)
- San Pedro Cathedral (the oldest church in Davao City)
- People’s Park (a public park – no entrance fee)
- Roxas Night Market (Street food bazaar along Roxas Avenue)
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‘Bonding’ with crocs at Davao Crocodile Park
After touring the city proper, the next activity you could have is to visit Davao Crocodile Park, located atRiverfront, Corporate City, Diversion Highway Ma-a, Davao City 8000 Philippines. There you can see crocodiles of various sizes, including the biggest one in captivity, Pangil. The park also houses other animal species like raptors, monkeys, bearcats, snakes, birds, and other reptiles. You will surely enjoy visiting the place most especially during animal exhibits. Apart from that, the facility also boasts of their butterfly garden. Plus, if you are visiting in the late afternoon or early evening, you might be able to witness fire dance presentation fromTribu K’Mindawawan.
Go extreme at Outland Adventure Camp
If you wish to do some extreme outdoor activities, then head to Outland Adventure Camp – a facility that offers various outdoor activities including rope courses and zip lines, which are ideal for group team building activities or even for a small group wanting to have some fun. This facility is located along Diversion Road, Ma-a Davao City – a 30-minute taxi ride from the city proper.
Whitewater Rafting at Davao River
If the extreme activities at Outland Adventure Camp makes you wanting more, then you can go even more extreme with whitewater rafting (aka wild river rafting) at Davao River. This blood-rushing, heart-pumping activity will surely leave your physical self exhausted but your spirit exalted with all the excitement that conquering the rapids gushing through the wide winding river brings you. Please note that this activity lasts about eight hours, so you need to dedicated a full day for this.
Visiting the Philippine Eagle Center and Malagos Garden Resort
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Another must visit places in Davao City are the Philippine Eagle Center and Malagos Garden Resort. The formeris an 8.4 hectare haven for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and other birds of prey, mammals , and reptiles; it is located within the Malagos Watershed, at the foothills of Mt. Apo. The latter is a 12-hectare nature theme park located just a few distance away from the Philippine Eagle Center. If you want to breathe in cool mountain breeze and get even closer to nature, then you should not miss visiting the place. The resort cultivates a wide variety of plants, including the famous orchids, fruit trees, palms, and ornamental plants.
Engaging more with nature at Eden Nature Park
Located at the outskirt of the city, Eden Nature Park provides a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Its high elevation (about 1000 meters above sea level) results a significantly cooler temperature that is comparable to that of Baguio City. Besides giving you a wonderful taste of nature, the park provides for extreme outdoor adventure as well such as its zip line and sky-cycling facilities. Tourists can also enjoy its swimming pool along with other amenities. Its fishing village gives an exciting treat as well. Indeed, Eden Nature Park is an ideal place to go to for those who are looking for a refreshing and enjoyable vacation.
Talicud Island Hopping
Davao, indeed, has its fair share of nature’s gift – from highland to island, as they say it. If going to beach is your thing (and I call it “beaching”), you should go for island hopping. There’s quite a number of travel and tour companies that offer island hopping packages that you can avail; you can go for a joiner tour as well. This activity usually starts at sunrise and ends at sundown; you will be touring beautiful spots around Talicud Island – white sand beaches, diving spots, islets – so be sure to dedicate a full day schedule for this activity.
Where to eat in Davao City
Looking for a place to eat in Davao City should not be a problem; you can find one in almost every corner of the city – be it for a budget meal or for a more luxurious dine; from a regular plated meal to buffet dining.
Here are some popular options:
Dencia’s
Address: General Luna St, Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur
Phone: (082) 226 4336
Business Hours: 07:00AM – 09:00PM
Davao Green Buffet Haus
Address: Pelayo St, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur
Phone: (082) 225 1860
Business Hours: 11:00AM – 02:00PM; 05:30PM – 10:00PM
Kuya Ed’s
Update: Kuya Ed’s no longer operating.
A. Pichon St, Barangay 2-A, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur
Business Hours: 11AM–8:30PM
Phone: +63 82 224 2162
Jack’s Ridge (a chain of dining places and resort)
Shrine Hills Rd, Talomo, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur, Philippines
Phone: +63 82 297 8830
Business Hours: 10AM–12AM
Penong’s (A chain of restaurants)
Mt.Apo St., Davao City 8000
Phone: (082) 321 2973
Business Hours: 10AM–2PM, 5:30–10PM
Vista View
 | Hilltop, Brgy. Langub, Talomo, Davao City 8000 Phone: (082) 284 2291 / 0923 723 3615 / 0923 740 1724 Business Hours: 10:00AM – 10:00PM |
Vikings
 | Ground Floor, The Fountain Court, SM Lanang Premiere, J.P. Laurel Ave, Agdao, Davao City, Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 285 3888 Business Hours: 11AM–2:30PM, 5:30–10PM |
Zab’s Buffet
 | 27 Roxas Ave, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur Phone: 0998 866 9163 Hours: 11AM–2PM, 6–9PM |
Update: Zabs Buffet is no longer operating
Where to stay in Davao City
A place to stay in Davao City should not be a problem either; you have a lot of options to choose from – from backpacker accommodations (you can get as cheap as 150 per day) to a budget solo room to a more luxurious choices.
Here are the popular accommodations:
Apo View Hotel (Check room current rates)
 | Bonifacio Street, Brgy. 3-A (POB.) , 8000 Davao City , Davao Del Sur Phone: +63 (82) 221-6430 to 40 http://www.apoview.com/ |
Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel (Check current room rates)
 | J Camus Street, Davao City, Davao del Sur 8000 Philippines Phone: +63 82 224 0501 Fax: +6382 221 3585 http://casaleticia.com |
Green Windows Dormitel
 | 5Th Floor FTC Towers, 1034 Mt. Apo Street, Davao City Phone: (082) 300 3893 http://www.greenwindowsdormitel.com/ |
Hotel Uno (Check current room rates)
 | CM Recto St., Davao City, Philippines 8000 Landline: +63 82 282 1111 Mobile: +63 917 682 0051 or +63 933 850 2210 https://www.hotelunodavao.com/ hotelunodavao@gmail.com |
Marco Polo Davao (Check current rates)
 | CM Recto Street, Davao City 8000, Philippines Tel. (63 82) 221-0888 Fax. (63 82) 225-0111 http://www.marcopolohotels.com davao@marcopolohotels.com |
Park Inn by Radisson Davao (Check current rates)
 | J.P. Laurel Avenue, 8000 Davao City, Philippines (Next to SM Lanang Premier) Phone: +63 82 272 7600 local 226 and 227 Fax: +63 82 272 7601 https://www.parkinn.com/hotel-davao Email: reservations.davao@parkinn.com |
Red Planet Davao (Check current room rates)
 | J.P. Laurel Ave, Buhangin, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 224 0577 https://www.redplanethotels.com/hotel/davao |
Seda Abreeza Davao (Check current room rates)
 | Abreeza Ayala Business Park,, J.P. Laurel Ave, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 244 3000 http://www.sedahotels.com/abreeza/ |
The Pinnacle Hotel and Suites
The Royal Mandaya Hotel
Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao
Sample Itinerary & Budget Breakdown
Day 1: San Pedro Square; Crocodile Park; Matina Town Square
[7:00 AM] Arrival at Davao Airport
[8:00 AM- 9:30 AM] Hotel Check-in (preferably within downtown)
[9:30 AM – 12:30 PM] San Pedro Square (visit City Hall, City Council, Davao Museum, San Pedro Cathedral) – FREE
[12:30 PM – 2:00 PM] Lunch (Recommendations: Penong’s; Kuya Ed’s (buffet) – 200 per person
[2:00 PM – 5:30 PM] Davao Crocodile Park – Entrance fee: 250 adult; 150 kids
[5:30 PM – 8:00 PM] Dinner at Vista View (option 2: Jack’s Ridge) – 200 per person
[8:00 PM – 10:00 PM] Matina Town Square (for live entertainment, night out] – Free entrance fee
[11:00 PM] Back to hotel / rest
Day 2: Eden Nature Park; Roxas Night Market
[6:00 AM – 8:00 AM] Breakfast, preparation for 2nd day tour
[8:00 AM – 3:30 PM] Eden Nature Park Day Tour – Entrance Fee: 600 regular fee; 350 for kids 4 to 10 years old(with buffet lunch)
– Guided shuttle tour inside the park – 120 per person (first come, first serve)
– Buffet lunch– Included in the entrance fee of 600; served at 11:30 AM
– Rides (Skycycling – 200 per person; Skyriding – 150 per person; Horseback Riding – 100 per person
– Fishing Village – Entrance Fee: 40
[4:00 PM-7:30 PM] Dinner at Zabs Buffet – 375 per person for buffet (for limited budget, Roxas night market is a great option)
[7:30 PM-9:00 PM] Stroll at Roxas Night Market
[9:00 PM] Back to hotel/ rest (end of day 2)
Day 3: Talicud Island Hopping or Whitewater Rafting at Davao River
Option 1: Island Hopping (1,000 per pax)
[6:00 AM – 7:30 AM] Breakfast
[7:30 AM – 8:30 AM] Sta. Ana Warf – Preparation for Island hopping
[8:30 AM – 3:30 PM] Island hopping (Talicud)
[3:30 PM – 6:00 PM] Back to hotel / rest
[6:00 PM – 7:30 PM] Dinner (Recommendatons: Dencia’s; Green Buffet; Toryano’s)
[7:30 PM – 9:00 PM] People’s Parkfree entrance
[9:00 PM] Back to hotel to prepare for departure and rest
Option 2: Whitewater Rafting (1,700 per pax)
[6:00 AM – 7:30 AM] Breakfast
[8:00 AM – 9:30 AM] Assembly at Crocodile Park
[9:30 AM – 11:00 AM] To Put-in area, Tamugan (base)
[11:00 AM – 12:00 NN] Writewater Rafting
[12:00 NN – 1:00 PM] Lunch
[1:00 PM – 3:00 PM] To Take Out area, Purok 8, Lacson
[3:00 PM – 4:30 PM] To Davao Crocodile Park
[4:30 PM – 6:00 PM] Back to hotel / rest
[6:00 PM – 7:30 PM] Dinner (Recommendations: Dencia’s; Green Buffet; Toryano’s) – 200 per person
[7:30 PM – 9:00 PM] People’s Park – free entrance
[9:00 PM] Back to hotel to prepare for departure and rest
Day 4: Shopping & Departure from Davao
[6:00 AM – 7:30 AM] Breakfast
[7:30 AM – 9:30 AM] Shopping (for loved ones back home) – recommendations: Bankerohan (fruits); Pasalubong Center (RTW and food items); Aldevinco Shopping Center (RTW)
[9:30 AM] To Airport – Depart for Home
Travel tips
- Early booking is recommended to secure slots, most especially for activities in the resorts that are on a first come, first serve basis.
- Ask and read brochure guide at the resort to ensure you do not miss the activity or attraction you most like.
- It pays to preserve nature; do not litter (just a friendly reminder, guys 😀 )
- Be friendly with locals; they are your buddies.
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Content updated on October 8, 2019
